Do You Love Your Buck?

Over my many years of raising goats, I have heard countless stories of mean, dangerous, and uncontrollable bucks.While I do not deny that those animals exist, I believe that nearly all of them would not have been a problem if they had been properly handled from birth.Many people say that they love goats, when in reality they only love the does, wethers and kids.They see bucks as smelly, sticky, gross, dirty animals that only exist to make more does, milk and kids – a “necessary evil,” if you will.If you can’t see through all the urine-soaked hair and stench to appreciate him for what he is and for what he adds to your farm, then it would be much better for you and the buck if you artificially inseminate your does or bring them to someone else’s buck each year for breeding.That said, if you’re up to the challenges of giving that big sticky guy a hug, then welcome to the wonderful smelly world of bucks!

Holden with Saanen buck Valor

Bucks are amazing animals and they all have unique personalities.Some are gentle and calm.Others are rude and obnoxious.Some are even dangerous.In most ways, they are just like does and wethers and they deserve to be treated just as well too. Don’t lock them up by themselves and expect them to be happy.They need another goat as a companion and should have all the same quality care that you would give to your does.However, they are not exactly like does and wethers.Because they are male animals, they do have the potential be more dangerous and unpredictable.Often they are bigger and stronger than you, which gives them an intimidation factor.In order for you to enjoy the company of your bucks, and handle them safely, the relationship must be one of mutual respect.People create dangerous bucks because they do not respect them from the start.You may think it is fun and cute for a buck to butt you when he is a little kid, but this behavior is very dangerous and should never be allowed at any age. The same goes for standing and jumping on you.You will have a very dangerous animal on your hands if you allow him to get away with this kind of behavior.It will not be funny when he is 300lbs!

Just as he should never be allowed to disrespect you, you must always give him his due respect too.Don’t grab at his horns if he has horns.If he is polled or disbudded, don’t push on the top of his head.He will see that as a challenge.Always be aware that he is a potentially dangerous animal, and like any male animal, he can be unpredictable.Don’t “trust” him.I absolutely love my bucks.I give them hugs and go on walks with them, but I always watch my back and am aware of where they are around me especially when they have horns.Even if they are not trying to hurt you, they can sometimes run up beside you and catch you with them. Don’t get too scared though.Most of the bucks I have owned have been gentle and easy to handle as long as they have been treated properly.

Lenore with her Angora buck Joules

Training them to lead as bucklings will also make handling them a lot easier when they are big.Some of my bucks have been trained to lead well by their beards or the scruff of hair above their shoulders.They should still be trained to lead with a collar or halter too, but it is nice sometimes to just have something to hold them by when you need to get control of them quickly.

If you are not starting with a kid, you may end up with a buck that already has bad habits.Bottle bucklings in particular are predisposed to being more dangerous.He must be strictly disciplined for his bad behavior.Normally a good whack to the nose is enough for rude behavior like flapping his tongue at you.Never lose your temper with any animal, kicking and hitting him!You are the one that will end up getting hurt.His head is a lot harder than you, especially if he has horns.If he is a truly dangerous animal though, don’t keep him.There are so many good-tempered bucks out there that it is not worth the risk.Nor is it a good idea to breed that kind of temperament into his kids.We have sometimes culled bucks for meat because they were just too dangerous.

Hopefully this has not scared you away from ever having a buck.That was never my intention.I do hope that you now have a better understanding of how to handle them in a way that will make them fun and safe so you can enjoy your big stinky guys to their fullest.

I’m so excited to see kids from all these breedings! Contact Us if you are interested purchasing a kid from any of these planned breedings. Not all the kids will be available, but I can put you on a waiting list to be contacted when we decide who will be available.

All the kids will be at least 50% Oberhasli and some will be 75%. See our Dairy Goats page for more information about the breeding and show records of each of our animals. All does will be ADGA registerable as either experimental or grade experimental. Experimental bucks will be registarable as well.

Our whole dairy goat herd is CAE, CL, and Johne’s tested negative. Their last test was on 8/31/2018 done by UBRL. I can forward the lab report to you.

4-H was founded over a hundred years ago, in a world that was just about to see the first Ford automobiles made.Orville and Wilbur Wright were about to fly their first airplane.The world 4-H was born into was a very different world than the one we see around us today with our cellphones, internet, and social media.4-H has always been about engaging youth and helping them reach their full potential, but what that looked like in the early 1900’s is very different than what it looks like in today’s world.So let’s explore how 4-H began and how it has evolved for over a century into what we know and understand 4-H to be today.

In the late 1800’s, new agricultural developments were taking place on university campuses, but the adults in rural farming communities did not readily except these new technologies.So researchers turned to the more open-minded youth.They knew that if they could reach them with these new developments, the children would bring these ideas home to their parents and farming practices would improve for the next generation.They connected with the youth though the public school system, and began clubs where they taught them in practical, hands-on ways how to solve the agricultural problems in their own communities.

4-H really started taking root in 1902, when A.B. Graham started 4-H clubs in Clark County, Ohio.The first clubs were called “The Tomato Club” and “The Corn-Growing Club”. In 1910, 4-Hers in Colorado were already being instructed by college agricultural agents like they are today.By this time, the clover had come to be used as the 4-H emblem, but it did not look exactly like it does now.Before 1911, the clover only had 3 H’s, which stood for Head, Heart, and Hands.In 1911, club leaders met and discussed the need of a fourth H on the clover.One of the words considered for the fourth H was Hustle, but that was rejected, and they unanimously decided on Health instead.Head, Heart, Hands, and Health have been universally used ever since.

1914 marked the beginning of a National 4-H with the passage of the Smith-Lever Act, creating the Cooperative Extension System at USDA which provided funding for 4-H.Although different activities were originally emphasized for girls and boys, 4-H stands out as one of the first youth organizations to give equal attention to both genders.Girls would have been taught how to safely preserve food, and other homemaking skills.Boys were instructed in better farming practices.

4-H kept it’s focus on rural agricultural areas for nearly half a century, but by the 1960’s, that started to change.While man was taking his first steps on the moon and programs like Star Trek were airing on television, 4-H started to look to a new frontier as well.This one would include activities for all youth, whether they lived on rural farms, in suburbs, or in the big cities.Clubs no longer focused only on agriculture, but also on personal development and other non-agricultural projects.In 1974, 4-H started airing a show called “ Mulligan Stew” on television and also showing it in schools.The show taught children about healthy nutritional habits.It became widely popular, and 4-H membership rocketed to an all-time high.

From the 1960’s until the present, 4-H has focused on many areas outside of agriculture.Although most of the public still sees 4-H as it was originally with its primary focus on agriculture, 4-H is quickly moving beyond its agricultural roots to focus more on leadership, citizenship, healthy living, and STEM-related activities.In Tennessee, 4-H projects not directly involving agricultural outnumber ag-related projects 17 to 10.

While a broadening horizon is a good thing, I do hope that 4-H will not leave its roots of the past.As a 4-Her that loves agriculture and has raised goats, sheep, cows, and chickens, I believe agriculture still has a lot to offer youth.Farmers are the ones that feed the world, and that sounds like a pretty important job to continue encouraging youth to be involved in. So while all these new project areas are good, let’s not forget how 4-H began.As long as there are still people that need to eat, agriculture will never become obsolete!

What 4-H is today is not what it was when it began over a hundred years ago.It has grown and evolved along with a quickly-changing world.If 4-H had stayed the same, then chances are it would have disappeared and been forgotten along with the telegraph and the horse-drawn carriage. But it has survived and is thriving.It has been able to adapt to a new frontier of technology that children in the Corn and Tomato clubs could have never imagined.That different world has not stopped 4-H from continuing the same mission of engaging youth and helping them to reach their full potential, whatever that may be.A new and diverse generation of 4-Hers are rising up to lead the world in fields ranging from robotics and leadership to agriculture and food science. 4-H has stood the test of time and is here to stay.Who knows if one day in the future we will even be starting 4-H clubs on Mars.Because when an organization’s motto is to make the best better, the sky’s not even the limit!

A young woman has recently discovered that she is pregnant.She has a life of her own to live and exciting dreams to attain, and this “pregnancy” does not fit in with her plans.In fact, “it” is an incredibly unwanted inconvenience.She has been told that she has a legal right to end the “pregnancy” and remove the “lump of tissue” that is in the way of the future that she so desperately desires.The “fetus” is part of “her body” after all, and no one should be able to tell her what she can and cannot do with her own body.And what other choice does she really have?

Will she choose abortion?If all she has been told is true, then why wouldn’t she? Abortion would appear to be a perfect solution that will make her life easier and allow her to go on with the future she wants.But is all that she has been told really true?Is the pregnancy just a “lump of tissue”?Is the “fetus” really only another part of her body?Will this decision actually give her the future she wants?Is abortion truly her only option?

First and foremost, it is important to determine what exactly is meant by the vague words “lump of tissue”, because that could mean any number of things.We need to be clear that when an abortionist refers to removing the “lump of tissue”, they really mean ending the precious life of a developing human child.Clarity of words is also important when an abortionist refers to ending or terminating a pregnancy which results in the death of the child residing in the protective womb of its mother.Abortionists often use evasive language like this to try to take the attention away from what is really going on, the murder of a baby.

This mother has been told that the fetus is actually not a human being though.Is that true? What makes someone human?Is it where they are located?Is it the physical or mental abilities they posses?How about their age?Would a special needs six year old be less human than a successful college student?The only consistent answer is that at the moment of fertilization God creates a new life with an eternal soul.God clearly illustrates His recognition of the pre-born as human persons in His word.

Psalm 139:13-16 says:

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Even secular medical texts refer to fertilization as the moment when the egg and sperm become a human being.Doctor Louis Fridhandler, in the medical textbook Biology of Gestation, refers to fertilization as “that wonderful moment that marks the beginning of life for a new unique individual.”

Our new mother has also been told that this life is just another part of her body, much like her appendix or tonsils.What makes the unborn baby different?The difference is in its DNA.The mother’s arms and legs and tonsils all share the same genetic code that makes her, her.But it is not so with her fetus.At the moment of fertilization, her future child already has its own unique DNA that is different than both its mother and father, and will determine how it grows and matures.It is distinctly separate from its mother’s body, though dependent on and inside of the mother’s body, but still not her same body.Even our nation’s laws resoundingly support this fact.In 2000, the House of Representatives voted unanimously to delay capital punishment for a pregnant woman until after her child was born.Obviously, there is no law protecting the mother’s tonsils from capital punishment, so the unborn baby must not be a part of the mother’s body after all.

So, she now knows that the baby is an individual person and not part of her body, and that to end its life would be murdering another human being, but what about her life? Still, won’t aborting the baby give her the future she desires?

Many, many woman that have chosen abortion have not gotten the future they wanted.After having an abortion, woman are far more likely to have cancer, miscarriages, and later children born with disabilities.But the most damaging effect is on their mental health.Dr. Patricia Coleman, Professor of Human Development and Family studies at Bowling Green State University states that “81 percent of females who had an abortion were found to be at an increased risk for mental health problems, including, depression, alcohol abuse, and suicidal behaviors”.

God’s Word in Romans 2:15a says:

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness…

It is clear that God sees abortion as the sin of murder, and these woman’s consciences are crying out to them that what they have done is wrong.The young woman that is considering an abortion has a conscience, and even though it has likely been dulled by lifelong exposure to the arguments of pro-abortionists, God can still change her heart.

Finally, we need to show the expectant mother that abortion is not the only choice she has. She needs to know that there are people willing to support her whether she decides to raise the child herself, or choses adoption.Pregnancy help centers are the first place she should turn to.These centers are lovingly run by trained individuals, who know best how to help her through this difficult season of her life, and provide her with the counseling and direction she needs to make the right choices for herself and her child.And amazingly, many of these centers can even use ultrasound equipment to persuasively show her the life within her womb that is already thriving.

All it takes is one person that has the courage to tell her that the “lump of tissue” is actually a human being.Her baby is created in the image of God to bring Him glory and further His kingdom here on Earth.The “fetus” is not part of her body, but a separate person with its own DNA.Someone who will be willing to warn her that she is considering making a choice that could permanently damage her mind and body, and do something that God sees as sin.Willing to give her other life-affirming options like adoption or assist her in raising the baby herself.

To lose an animal will always be a trial for me.I have loved and cared for that animal.Planned their future, tried to make them happy.And then all those hours, thoughts, dreams, and dollars seem wasted.

Over the years of farming, I have lost many animals.Some were kids that never even got the chance to take their first breath.Mothers have died and taken their unborn with them.A favorite buck dies suddenly with no warning.A gentle calf was never given the chance to run and jump for joy.A beloved doeling, with all the potential in the world, dead.And the list goes on.And it hurts every time.I would ask myself if there had been anything more I could have done for them.Sometimes the answer was yes, and that is always when it hurt the most, because I felt like I had let them down somehow.

Had all the hours of stress and vet bills, trying desperately to bring that animal back from the brink of death, been wasted?Did their life have any purpose?

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.Romans 8:28

As hard as it may be to see at the time, their lives, all of them, did have a purpose.It’s my responsibility to make the most use out of their deaths, because I know that God is working even that out for my good.I need to learn as much as possible from their deaths, so that maybe next time the outcome can be different.Sometimes that has meant improving management, or nutrition.Or keeping certain medications on hand and removing hazards from their pastures.Maybe the only thing I got out of a death is to just spend more time in the barn and never take their lives for granted.

Whatever it is, I know I can trust God that their lives were not wasted.

I have been raising goats for most of my life…10 years to be exact.I have always loved goats ever since I can remember, and the last 10 years has only increased my love and enthusiasm for these wonderful animals.I was taking care of my mother’s herd of goats when I was about 7 years old, doing hoof-trimming, milking, and pulling kids when needed.When I was 13 years old, my younger sister and I purchased our own goats with our personal savings.Those first two milk goats that we got were the start of our herd of now over 20 dairy, meat, and fiber goats.

You may be wondering “why goats?” After all, I could have chosen to raise a multitude of other animals instead.What makes goats so amazing that I would dedicate 10 years of my life to these animals?You may be surprised to find out that my reason can be explained simply in the 4-H clover.Yes, I am talking about the Head, Heart, Hands, and Health H’s of 4-H, and although you may have never thought that the 4-H clover had anything remotely to do with goats, by the end, I think you will agree that these four H’s are all about goats.

While some of my goats may be a little hard-headed, I hope that you are not.By using your head, I think you will see that if you are considering a type of livestock to raise, goats almost always will come out as the logical choice.

Goats are extremely adaptable animals that thrive in many different environments and husbandry situations, making them a perfect choice for any homestead or serious farmer.They can thrive on land that sheep and cows would turn their noses up at, and utilize brush and wooded areas that would go to waste with other livestock.They don’t require elaborate housing, just a roof and 3 walls to block the wind. While fencing for goats is harder than for some other livestock, they do train well to electric fencing.On our farm, I use step-in posts with four strands of poly wire to do rotational grazing, and 6 strands of electrified wire and t-posts for permanent fields.

Dairy goats are more feed efficient than dairy cows and produce just the right amount of healthymilk for a family, from about a half gallon each to nearly 2 gallons of milk a day, depending on the animal. They are also safer and easier to handle than cows due to their smaller size, which makes them a good first animal for children.

Kid goats mature quickly with doelings easily kidding their first time at about one year of age.They often have twins and triplets, and we even have had one goat have quintuplets.This can quickly multiply your profits.And speaking of goat kids…that brings us the to next H on the clover which stands for heart, and seriously, who ever had the heart to turn down a baby goat!?

Yes, goats and their sweet kids certainly do beat all for cuteness!And although cuteness alone is not necessarily a good reason to raise an animal, it does matter.After all, you are the one that has to look at that animal 365 days a year.So you might as well raise a cute one!They come in all sorts of colors and patterns, some flashy with spots, and some with symmetrical lines.Some even have thick white bands around their black bodies like Oreo cookies!When you go to sell your goats, buyers will often even pay more for cuteness which is an extra bonus!

Raising goats gives 4-Her’s a unique way of using their hands, the third H on the clover.I will not mince words, raising goats is a LOT of hard work.Each day they must be fed and watered.They need their fences maintained and cut under and their sheds mucked out each year.If you raise dairy goats like me, they also need to be milked twice a day.Fiber goats must be shorn twice a year.You will also need to store away enough hay for winter, and take care of any goat that might get sick, protect the does and kids at birthing season, and trim their hooves and brush them regularly.

You may be wondering if all that hard work is really worth it, and I would say a resounding YES!Raising goats as a 4-H project gives you many opportunities, one of which is to show your animals.Although showing is not for everyone, it is a great way to learn about conformation, and get a good opinion on the quality of your animals.Of course, the best part about showing is when you get to walk out of the ring with a blue ribbon and sometimes even a money prize.

Another opportunity to use your hands is by training a working goat. I have a very special goat named Alfred, and after lots of hard work, he is now trained to drive and pack.I take Alfred out with his red wagon and we give rides to children around our neighborhood and that visit our farm.We have also entered him in two parades.The last parade that he was in, he won the Kid’s Choice Award.After the parade, we stayed for several hours and gave free rides to the children there.We have also taken a baby goat to a local nursing home to show to the residents.Just use your imagination and you can come up with some pretty amazing ways to use your hands serving your community though goats.

Raising fiber goats takes using your hands to a whole new level.With angora goats producing around 8 pounds of mohair a year, you have a lot of fiber to work with.I spin, knit, crochet, felt and weave which are all ways that use my hands and my goat’s fiber.

And finally, let’s remember the last H, health.Health happens to be one of the biggest reasons people raise goats.Many people that are lactose intolerant, or can’t drink cow’s milk, have no problem drinking goat’s milk.Sadly, for this reason many people think of goat’s milk just as some kind of medicine that is only good for the sick.Thankfully, that is not true at all!Goat’s milk is better for everyone.And it tastes wonderful too!Yes, you heard me right, goat’s milk tastes wonderful, and I am not speaking only for myself, my entire family loves goat’s milk.But, the health benefits of goat’s milk don’t stop in your glass.Goat’s milk is great for making cheese and yogurt.Also, many cosmetic products such as soap and lotion are made from goat’s milk and have a healthy effect on your skin.

Goat meat, is another healthy product that comes from raising goats.Although goat meat is widely consumed around the world, it is often overlooked in the United States, though through no fault of its own.Goat meat is a very lean meat that is comparable to lamb in flavor and consistency.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of why I love goats and have raised them forso many years.And maybe, just maybe, you will now consider raising this amazing animal for yourself.What could any 4-H’er want more than to raise an animal that is literally a walking 4-H clover…well not exactly, but still you can’t get much closer than a goat.After all, what other animal exemplifies all of the four H’s so perfectly.

Lenore Thorne won first in Club and Second in Regionals with this speech.